Power conditioning

[zapr]

I have talked about power conditioning in the speaker forum and described what I learn.I bought a power conditioner by monster and it's the only accessory that really worked.Some of the guys on this forum disagree.Your best to research for yourself.Go to reviews and click others under accessories.You will find power conditioners there and read what others have to say.Or go to monster cable.com and click monster power.All the information is there.

[mtrycraft]

I have talked about power conditioning in the speaker forum and described what I learn.I bought a power conditioner by monster and it's the only accessory that really worked.Some of the guys on this forum disagree.Your best to research for yourself.Go to reviews and click others under accessories.You will find power conditioners there and read what others have to say.Or go to monster cable.com and click monster power.All the information is there.

How has it worked for you? How did you test this?
Why do you think he will learn anything useful from reading the sources you suggested? Monster has a product to sell, hardly unbiased. You really think they would denigrade their own product? Or that their marketeers would be totally unbiased, scientific and factual?
Do you think others have really tested the product in an unbiased manner?

[Mash]

I have a cute DMM that measures frequency. I plug it into a wall socket and watch the line frequency float between 59.9 and 60.1 Hz.

I have experience with larger steam and gas driven AC generators and they produce a very clean output power. Spurious noise picked up in the line should be rare and anyway it should be filtered by the equipment. Perhaps you could connect an ocilliscope which would let you display the entire frequency sprectrum in your house plugs?

I do not think I have seen anything in a power conditioner that justifies $600 and up prices. But then I have never seen an interconnect that was worth $300 and up a pair, but people still buy them.

[Mwalsdor_cscc_edu]

In my experience AC conditioning is very important, and more beneficial than cables in broader applications. I.E. clean A C is important for all systems and the effects more apparrent. I agree that it is preferred to begin with components that respect this fact. And to take those measures one step further by encorporating upgrades at home [when applicable]; dedicated lines.

For some this is not practical, and even if so you may benefit from AC devices like outboard power line conditioners. I've used them for the last 5 years and have realized good results. Though, just like other components they were limited to the devices themselves and as always dependant on many variables. YMMV. I've used 4 different PLCs in my system and all with differing results. The API Power Wedge really didn't improve my system sonically, instead provided surge protection. Each susequent PLC I tried directly benefited the system; PS Audio PowerPlant and Ultimate Outlet and the Shunyata Hydra. I can recommend all three for auditions in your system. I purchased the Hydra and later sampled the two PS Audio products.

As for the benefit. There was less electronic haze, which I found the greatest benefit to reduce the distance between listener and source. It made the artifical nature of playback less apparent. You weren't listening to the medium as much, instead the focus was on the performance, which is a substanial result. Additionally, everything sounded more relaxed [in a natural way] reminecent of analog with less of a digital edge. Soundstage depth was much improved as was the retrievial of information and subtlies of music itself.

MikE

[Harleyx]

I Myself bought 3 different power conditioners, and MUCH TO MY SUPRISE I DISCOVERED...That I helped make the companies rich.
They are CRAP! Plain and simple.
Move some wires, hook your gear up 'smartly'...and you will (as I have) discover you DO NOT need them.

[BRANDONH]

In my experience AC conditioning is very important, and more beneficial than cables in broader applications. I.E. clean A C is important for all systems and the effects more apparrent. I agree that it is preferred to begin with components that respect this fact. And to take those measures one step further by encorporating upgrades at home [when applicable]; dedicated lines.

For some this is not practical, and even if so you may benefit from AC devices like outboard power line conditioners. I've used them for the last 5 years and have realized good results. Though, just like other components they were limited to the devices themselves and as always dependant on many variables. YMMV. I've used 4 different PLCs in my system and all with differing results. The API Power Wedge really didn't improve my system sonically, instead provided surge protection. Each susequent PLC I tried directly benefited the system; PS Audio PowerPlant and Ultimate Outlet and the Shunyata Hydra. I can recommend all three for auditions in your system. I purchased the Hydra and later sampled the two PS Audio products.

As for the benefit. There was less electronic haze, which I found the greatest benefit to reduce the distance between listener and source. It made the artifical nature of playback less apparent. You weren't listening to the medium as much, instead the focus was on the performance, which is a substanial result. Additionally, everything sounded more relaxed [in a natural way] reminecent of analog with less of a digital edge. Soundstage depth was much improved as was the retrievial of information and subtlies of music itself.

MikE

I see you mention PS Audio
I am really thinking on getting this one
PS AUDIO - P1000


Any thoughts on this unit?

[zapr]

How has it worked for you? How did you test this?
Why do you think he will learn anything useful from reading the sources you suggested? Monster has a product to sell, hardly unbiased. You really think they would denigrade their own product? Or that their marketeers would be totally unbiased, scientific and factual?
Do you think others have really tested the product in an unbiased manner?

Mtrycraft..........The power bar worked very well.My system sounds smoother,tweeters are more liquid,no harshness,bass has tightened up.I can listen to cd,s that I couldn't before.As far as testing this,I took what I iearned on this site and what I read in magazines and took a chance and bought one.It did everything it claimed.As far as being biased,I can only tell what the monster product did for me.There are other brands that will do the same thing.I chose monster because of price.I posted my claims here to help anyone interested........Mtrycraft........You may remember me as zedder from a few years back.

[mtrycraft]

Mtrycraft..........The power bar worked very well.

Great

My system sounds smoother,tweeters are more liquid,no harshness,bass has tightened up.I can listen to cd,s that I couldn't before.As far as testing this,I took what I iearned on this site and what I read in magazines and took a chance and bought one.It did everything it claimed.

Seeing that you posted here before, a few years back which I am not remembering I am disappointed that you didn't try some bias controls in your testing.


As far as being biased,I can only tell what the monster product did for me.There are other brands that will do the same thing.I chose monster because of price.I posted my claims here to help anyone interested

OK. And I am challenging those claims so others can see that bias must be controlled for to have some sort of reliability of ones listening for differences.

[Mwalsdor_cscc_edu]

Not to sound like a salesmen but unfortunately, my experience is that the cheaper PLCs or power bars did little and only untill I tried the more expensive, albeit later production, PLCs did I realize positive results. But I'm not recommending you buy one, instead I'm comfortable suggesting you upgrade your wall receptical. Typically those are old, with poor connection between the male/female ends. And they are cheap. You can go to most hardware stores and get one. The one I use is a silver-plated, cryo-treated model. I paid $20 for it in a auction and it retails for a few more bucks, I believe. While kind of a odd thing to A/B, I was "blown away" by this simple upgrade. Of course, YMMV but I've spoken with a number of other people that have tried the same outlet and our impressions are very similiar. Daisy-chaining the PS Audio Ultimate Outlet to my PLC [or one PLC to another] brought dramatic results. Though, I'm not convinced it [daisy-chaining] wasn't a artificial additive, which for my sensibilities is a no-no.

Start with quality components that use proper filtering and respect for isolating the analog/digital signal. Outboard power supplies are even better. Then, if applicable, get a dedicated line. Use a electrican that can properly ground the system. Replacing the in-wall wiring is a plus. If not, at least upgrade your outlet and then look into a decent PLC. Then and only then would I start sampling non-captive power cords [again, if applicable]. Proably more than you were bargaining for.

MikE

[Laps]

Recently replaced PS Audio conditioner with the Shunyata Hydra 6 and Shunyata Taipan Alpha power cord. Huge difference! Everything they claim rang true to my ears and my system. Definitely the most dramatic upgrade I've made since adding the Music Fidelity Tri-Vista 21 DAC.